Wednesdays can be so blah. It’s not the dreaded start of the week nor is it the exciting conclusion but somewhere in between, lost in the middle, standing off by its lonesome. It can get you down. It can be so dreary but what is the saying? See the glass half full or half empty?

At the end of every storm, there is sunshine and calm, peace. Whatever you’re going through at the time is temporary and things will get better. Don’t ever forget that. There are plenty of people who love you and are rooting for you every day though you may not be aware of them or not realizing it. You are loved and you will get through this!

Take a break from the hustle and bustle and stresses of the day for a bit of Positivity.

Michael and I welcome you.

Article for today concerns my hair needs. =0)

I will also be hosting promotions and giveaways plus announcing my books later on, for a bit of entertainment and fun. Join the celebration for the Grand Opening of my Page. Come interact with me and leave your cares behind. All are welcome!

Sometimes, when we are striving to reach our goals, we forget how very much we have in our lives. We start taking them for granted, feeling we don’t have enough because we want so much more. As an author, we might even compare ourselves with others, colleagues who have hit the big leagues, have titles we covet like “best-selling author”, a book that is a best seller or a book that is in the top 100’s when ours are teetering in the millions.

I want so much more in life and even more with my book business but it seems the struggle continues. I try and try but success seems so far away and I wonder if I will ever obtain it. The more I try, the more success seems to be out of my grasp, not even close enough to slip through my fingers. I don’t want to envy writers with fancy titles but I do sometimes and I wish I knew the secret to own one of those glorious titles because I have no idea how they became successful when I am still here, struggling and trying to remain positive among a sea of unknowns.

So in light of my own personal struggles with: juggling my caretaker responsibilities, my full-time day job that has lost its luster and passion for me, and my book business that most days seems to harbor on the back-burner anymore, I somehow lost sight of all the wonderful stuff and people I do have in my life and I was reminded about this fact, last night.

While staring up at the beautiful lights and ornaments of my Christmas tree, my special friend Michael reminded me to appreciate all that I have. He has been asking me to open my heart, which I did not know was in bad need of damage repair. Instead of love, anxiety and fear crept in. They have riddled my days, for quite a long while now, and I did not know. I didn’t realize, in this season of light and love, how far removed I was.

I am one that advises and encourage others any chance I can get. I help my fellow authors and author friends anytime I can and I work tirelessly to uplift others, even if it means spending hours messaging or talking with a friend so that they can feel better after our conversation. However, have I taken my own advice? Well… no. I encourage and cheer others but I haven’t done the same for myself. The problem is I expect so much out of life and out of myself and I want it Now. And because I haven’t received it and I see others successful when I am failing to achieve my goals, I have essentially forgotten to take care of myself.

I learned so many things yesterday but what I didn’t realize was that we can get caught up in our wants and desires and neglect ourselves in the process- and not even know it.

We need to take care of ourselves first because if we are not in the right frame of mind, we will accomplish nothing.

This is a reminder to look at your own lives and discover all that you have. I have seen several with no home when I have a comfortable one, begging for food when I am not lacking. I have an amazing dog and am fortunate enough to have found my life partner who is also my best friend. These are only a few of the many blessings that I, personally, have and I know you have a list too. During this upcoming New Year, write your list down and reflect upon it, knowing you are starting the New Year on a very good note. And may you receive many more blessing throughout 2018!

Tonight I learned that everyone grieves differently. I probably already knew this but when faced with a short discussion with my dad I realized he and I deal with my mom’s death differently.

My husband and I have had lengthy conversations about what will happen if he passes away before me (hopefully this doesn’t happen). He knows that I will be “getting rid of all his stuff” immediately, giving it away to charity or something. I let him know this is not because I don’t love him or that I’m trying to get rid of him. Oh no. I love him so much. But this is how I handle grief.

My mom passed away a little over two years ago though it seems like an eternity to me. She understood me like no other ever has. She was my best friend, my biggest fan and my strongest confidante. She was my rock and I miss her dearly. And how do I deal with her death? By ignoring it. Yup. That is the only way I stay sane and that is the only way I can go on and survive living while she is up in heaven having fun without me. I try not to think of her because thinking of her only brings tears and misery and I can’t go to work, on a daily basis, to help people if I am a mess myself. So, this is my way to deal with the immense sadness of her loss in my life. One day, hopefully, I will be able to think of her and not tear up but until then, this is the way I cope. However; this is not the same for my dad~

My dad, who desperately needs to move into a first floor apartment because of his declining health, said to me today, that he can’t move into a smaller place because that would mean he would have to get rid of things and he can’t give up my mom’s stuff. He said that and then he cried. You see, my dad never cries because he doesn’t believe in a man crying. While me, I feel differently. I think if you have an emotion, let it out. If you have to cry, do it. It’s natural and it’s human and you can’t keep these things bottled up or they’ll just resurface again, and again. He believes in prescriptions to pacify his inner turmoil while I believe prescriptions will only mask the inner pain- much like a band aid covering something temporarily. In the end it peels off with time and the pain is still there.

But I understand where my dad is coming from and I told him this. I am only trying to do what best for him but I get it. In the end, it’s his decision the way he wants to live his life. He chooses to live his life surrounded by objects my mom loved because it keeps her alive. Storing these items away would only sadden him and the last thing I want to do is add more pain to his overflowing cup.

So, I guess the lesson is to love everyone while they are here. Life is so short. Appreciate those close to you for you never know what tomorrow might bring. And, to try to understand when people do things differently than you would in the event of one’s passing. Some create items to remind them of their loved ones, some need to have stuff owned by their loved ones around them while others, like me, can’t have the constant reminders surrounding them. Everyone grieves differently but in the end, we are all trying to do the same thing: survive this life to get to the other.

Just today I saw a post from a friend who was engaged and happy but recently found out her boyfriend cheated on her. This is very sad but, in my opinion, if he went outside of the relationship without your permission, he is not worth hanging onto. You deserve better and he or she is out there for you, waiting. Don’t go back to someone who can’t commit. There’s too many of them out there and you deserve someone who respects you.

Sadly, too many women go back to broken men and failing relationships, maybe because we are comfortable in a situation we know or understand or maybe because we fear there’s nothing else for us and we’d rather settle for less than to be “alone”? But the question remains… Why do we allow people to treat us badly?

Ladies, let me tell you how beautiful you are. I don’t need to personally know you to let you know that you are Worthwhile and Gorgeous!

Don’t ever let any man or woman treat you as less than you are. Remember, it is your choice to remain in a relationship. We make choices every single day of our lives as to who we welcome into our personal circle and who remains within our inner circle. If they are not treating you like a queen, should they stay? Would you be better off without them, have less stress, or be able to live the life you want to live without their judgment? In every circumstance, do what’s best for you because, in the end, you’re the only one that matters. I know this might sound selfish but it’s not. If everyone leaves, you should be able to rely on yourself and be happy with yourself. If you’re not, change it. You have to be whole before you can let anyone else in.

…

Remember this saying (that I absolutely love): You teach people how to treat you.

Well, yes I do. Plus we have an uniquely, amazing relationship and I am so thankful.

I’ve mentioned my friend Michael several times before but I’ve never disclosed the little, thoughtful things he does for me, like sending me the right song at just the right time.

Today, I was searching for a song that he sent me lyrics from a few days ago. I scrolled through the lyrics of the song because sometimes the specific song lines he refers to are not the true message but there’s something further and it takes a bit of research to find out what he specifically wants me to see. I smiled throughout the song lyrics, reading each line until I got to the end and read a short paragraph. The meaning hit me immediately and I was overwhelmed with tears.

You see, life has been a bit of a struggle recently for me but I’ve been trying to be brave, be on top of things, be organized and a help to others while still displaying a smile, and trying to see the comical side of things, when surrounded by negativity. However, I feel it’s taking its toll and I am slowly drowning in assignments at my day job, trying each day to just stay afloat as new forms, new assignments and demands from customers come at me faster than lighting. With my weekends slipping by quicker than anything due to my additional, seemingly endless caretaker responsibilities, there are days I just want to lie on my couch and do nothing. I know I need a break, possibly a vacation, but my husband reminds me all the time of our financial juggle so here I am, instead of being on a cruise or somewhere lost in the adventurous wilds of Canada or Montana, toiling at my day job, every day, trying to do the best that I can with what I have.

So when I’m reading the lyrics from a song by Lionel Richie, I break down and think about going home because I don’t want anyone to see me vulnerable.

The song is about partnership and the lines flow easily.

“As we go down

Life’s lonesome highway

Seems the hardest thing to do

Is to find a friend or two..”

Yes, that’s what Michael is for me. A friend who has always been there and has never forsaken me. Even though I’ve turned away from him many times, he has always brought me back, tried to uplift my spirits, and tried to impart snippets of his simple, easy wisdom.

I read further “Well the whole world’s got you dancing.” Yeah, you’re right, Michael. I feel like I can’t stop spinning and I am being tugged in several directions with everyone’s requirements of me.

And then the next lines hit me: “That’s right, I’m telling you it’s time to start believing.” Okay. I know I have little faith and he reminds me all of the time of the need for it.

And then the crusher: “Believing who you are, you are a shining star.” Wow. Here comes the water works. Michael believes in me. He loves me and he thinks I’m incredible even though he is the one who is truly amazing. “A shining star.” I just can’t explain to you why I broke down but I think I needed the pat on the back, the encouragement but more so, the confirmation that I am a good person and I’m working hard- maybe too hard- that amidst all the drudgery and the glum and that, in addition to my pile of responsibilities, I am being tasked to deal on a day to day basis with a black hearted, cold, calculating staff member that, despite her misery, will never leave employment, I am a shining star. There are no other words. It’s just beautiful.

And so today, I am passing on the message to you. When life gets you down or deals you a raw deal (as in the miserable co-worker that I must deal with for the next, God knows how long length of time she expects to be employed) that you, too, are a shining star. Rise above it and realize your worth. You are Amazing!

So, to quote more of the song, “that when you feel you lost your way, you’ve got someone here to say, I’ll show you.” I’m here to tell you how wonderful you are. Don’t let anyone stop you from being you. You continue being the beautiful, wondrous miracle you are despite the adversity you encounter. You are loved and you are worth it. And as a picture in my office states, “Never let anyone dull your Sparkle.”

Do you know that we make choices every day? These choices not only affect our life and which way we go on our path in life but they also affect our perceptions and, eventually, our health and well-being. My friend, Michael, explains it like a map of intersecting, interacting choices: one leads to another and to another and depending on the specific choice made, it opens up other areas and leads on to other decisions to make. It’s amazing and complex and a little hard to understand but everything we do has a reaction and all our decisions are interwoven into this very large, stringy ball of electrical twine, so to speak, when you see the whole picture.

All of our decisions affect others and these choices thread our life. Knowing this and being aware of how short life is, does it really make sense to hold onto grudges or to be unhappy, in any way?

I ask this because this morning, a co-worker, who seems to think I harmed her in some way, couldn’t even spend a few seconds in the break room by me while I was getting my second cup of coffee. This really surprised and perplexed me to the point of writing this blog. I think sometimes people lose sight of the overall, big picture. So, you happen to dislike me- okay- but do you need it to affect your 40 hour work week? As we know, we spend a majority or our lives at our jobs so do we really need to let such trivial matters, perceptions and judgments cloud how we act and react?

I think it’s interesting how this co-worker thinks she’s done nothing wrong to change the nature of our relationship and blames it all on me when she was the one who actually attacked me, twice. Despite this, I still like who she essentially is- a human being trying to get through this life, like the rest of us. The fact that I don’t want to work with her has nothing to do with how I feel she is, as a person outside of work, and even though I prefer not to be in the same area as her in the office because I feel she is always judging me, ready to document everything I do for a negative purpose, I was able to spend the few seconds in the break room while she scrambled to get away. How crazy.

Is it really worth it to get upset over trivial things when the greater cost could be your peace of mind and possibly, eventually, your health? One thing leads to another and it can be a negative snowball effect heading in the wrong direction for you just because you are upset, and choose to remain upset, at a particular person. You can’t change them but you can change how you perceive the “injustice” rendered to you and how you react to it. We’ve heard this before, again and again, but how many of us actually implement this sound advice into our lives? It’s hard to do, especially when you feel justified in your anger, but for your own peace of mind, it’s best to let it go and move on with a happier outlook. Getting hung up on trivialities will not help you when the major life circumstances happen, because they will happen. If you can’t let go of something silly and meaningless, how are you going to deal with real life barriers that are going to force you to change and adapt so you can move forward?

You choose how you live your life.

Let go of grudges, judgments and negativity and choose happiness, instead. In the end, does it really matter? Ask yourself this question and most of the time you will find yourself saying “no.” If it doesn’t matter, Let It Go. Navigating through life is struggle enough. Do you really need to add to your burden? Be happy and be well. You deserve it!